OPINION:
As a Republican consultant working on House and Senate races across the country, I’ll say the truth plainly: The hand-wringing anxiety about the 2026 midterms is not a weakness but a strength. Instead of panicking about 2026, Republicans are preparing.
Republican concerns about the upcoming elections signal a seriousness about understanding the stakes. Republicans respect the voters and heard the message loud and clear from the off-year gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey last month, with Democrats winning both races by large margins, even after President Trump had just barely lost those same states in the November prior.
The Democrats are assuming their wins last month will translate to inevitable victories in 2026. However, this assumption, nearly one year away from Election Day, is incredibly dangerous for the Democratic Party.
A party that is boasting becomes complacent. A party that is worried sharpens its focus. That is why Republicans are already tailoring their plans for 2026. The anxiety is causing them to ask the hard questions early. Frankly, this uneasy mindset is exactly where Republicans should be right now.
Rather than retreating, Republicans are homing in on the issues that will drive success in the year ahead: affordability, public safety and competent governance. Mr. Trump, one of the most effective communicators in American political history, has been traveling the country to refine and test this messaging and is energizing voters who are most motivated when he is on the ballot. Let’s be clear: Mr. Trump and the final years of his administration are on the ballot.
The priorities of voters are not just talking points or buzzwords. They reflect the everyday realities of families struggling with rising costs from the Biden era, small businesses working to grow, and communities seeking stability and order. At the same time, Republicans in Washington are making sure Congress delivers on the rest of the Trump agenda that was given a mandate in November 2024.
Worry forces discipline, and discipline wins elections. This inflection point couldn’t have come at a better time for the party. The economic outlook for 2026 is increasingly favorable for Republicans, thanks in large part to Mr. Trump’s recently passed economic package, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. At its core, the legislation is all about economic growth, and Americans should begin to experience the largest middle-class tax cut in American history, no taxes on tips, overtime or Social Security, domestic investment and putting American businesses first.
As the effects of this bill ripple through the economy in 2026 and tangibly affect the financial situation for millions of Americans, it is essential that Republicans put Democrats on the defensive, as not one of them voted for this bill.
It’s also worth noting that, in May, once Jerome Powell’s term expires, Mr. Trump will appoint a new chair of the Federal Reserve. The new chair is widely expected to pursue significantly lower interest rates, which would help accelerate economic growth, spur job creation and make homeownership more attainable for millions of first-time buyers — all as the country heads into the November elections. This will be a winning issue for Republicans.
In 2026, voters will judge the work of Republicans on whether they feel more secure than they did two years earlier. Republicans will have an opportunity to make that case forcefully because the policies we’ve fought for are designed to deliver real results over time, rather than short-term sugar highs we saw so many times from “Bidenomics.”
Being worried now, with a yearlong runway ahead, gives Republicans plenty of time to tighten any loose ends. Our current focus and urgency on such important issues are signs of a party doing the work early, not panicking late.
If Republicans stay focused on the economic reality and disciplined messaging, they will get the opportunity to continue delivering on the “America First” agenda.
• Mike Hahn is president of Digital at Frontline Strategies, a former National Republican Senatorial Committee staffer and Trump 2016-2020 campaign official.
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